Beautiful to watch. Nasty to drive in. Wet snow and 100 wrecks and rollovers in the area. WE live on a short street between two arterials, so WE get plowed every few hours. We have no problems.
Jane’s working away. I think I’ve finally made the breakthrough on this book—I usually veg in the evening and watch telly, but I started editing what I’d worked on all day. Jane went off to bed. I went to my room and worked until 1:30 AM, then slept and reworked it one more time from dawn til noon. I’m finally happy with it. It’s been a bear. And for a time this year I began to despair of finding the threads I want. Got ’em! I think the bombed-out look in the bathroom was bothering us both, and while doing something about it took some time, we feel so good! I think we were getting mold from the bombed-out mess, and of course it was worse when we were working trying to fix it. Now it’s clean and new and beautiful and we’re just happy and charging ahead.
hooray! that’s wonderful news, congratulations!
That low level stress always takes a toll. You think you are coping while it is ongoing. When it is gone, things just click. It reminds me of trying to load film in an old camera. Fight, fight. Then give up and relax and the cylinder slides into place like magic. I cannot wait to read your magic in the new book.
Enjoy the coziness of being inside while a storm rages outside.
I just spent the morning lolling in bed thinking over plot devices for the section of my own novel I’m about to write on. I have known what I want the characters to do characterwise and to move the broader plot along, but how/why they they want to get back together again so they can solve big problem the book as been leading up has been bugging me. You can’t just have a character say, “gosh, I think I need our missing friend whom I quarreled with back in my life so we can save the king in the final section,” esp. when they don’t know they need that friend back.
I’m enjoying learning the craft of (what I hope is) persuasive novel writing: I hadn’t expected quite the challenge of working out the minor plot movers that justify broader actions. And, because I don’t like to introduce a plot device and then drop it cold, I am also working out how to introduce/weave in relevant hints of plot earlier on so this current, needed plot device isn’t a once-off tool. I’ve decided to give one, learned Renaissance wizard of a character high hopes that he has located the (raw substance?) of the philosopher’s stone (useful for saving lives, purifying souls, funding broke colleges and other interests of my characters), but he needs help to use it because, well, he’s a bit of a ghost right now. Hope this plot device, when woven well, works on a number of levels and places in the novel.
I think while you were otherwise engaged, the Well was refilling with fresh clear water.
One of my most favorite feelings is when I am warm and snug and comfy and know I have enough within that I don’t have to go without.
Glad, as always, to be here in Western Washington! We’re having a sunny morning although clouds are closing in, with more than just bit of a nip in the air, but it may *rain* (NOT snow!) later. Yay!
I’m just relaxing at the puter, watching the Stellar’s jays helping themselves to the cat food I’ve put out for my feline friends… they’re such lovely birds, and I’ve been also seeing a scrub jay following them in. Cool! The scrub jays just started moving into the area apparently, although they are considered a warmer weather bird. Ah but there’s no such thing as global warming… uh uh.
I too have been working on a book or two or three (keep starting them when I run into the wall of “which way thru this should I/they go?”). I don’t really enjoy the books where the hero loses everything so that later actions are understandable/justified, but I keep feeling like a whimp if I try to think about a easier less dramatic way thru things. So, I’m kinda stuck.. ok… a LOT stuck! *lol* Maybe I’m just waiting for my unconscious mind to come up with a suitable compromise? Needless to say, it hasn’t been cooperating. *pout*
But CJ, I am so delighted that you’re finally having things come together! I’m really looking forward to your next installment! Your characters are so vibrant and believable; I feel like I actually know them. Just the way I like it! Thank you again for your wonderful contributions to the genre of SciFi/fantasy!
This is my first post attempt so please bare with/forgive me. We got a bit more snow here in eastern NE on Friday but it’s gone already. Doesn’t hardly seem like a Midwestern winter. I think I must be 3 or 4 books behind on the Foreigner series so have a lot to look forward to. Car problems have me stressed at the moment (silly cars. If I had a nickle for every…) Gotta go jump start one right now. Sigh…
Welcome!
Glad you are prepared for icy blasts and staying warm and snug in your house.
The weather here has been all over the place….on Thursday it was in the 60’s, Friday we woke up to sleet and snow….the last two days have been in the 30’s and windy. i am in my sunroom with flowers in bloom…petunias, oxalice, impatiens, and today my hibiscus started blooming.
Happy dance that the writing is working out. Gene Fowler quote….”Writing is easy: all you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead.” 😉
So glad you’re warm and snug, and that the books are going well for both of you. As long as it doesn’t last for weeks, I find it joyous to look out on new snow.
The North Coast has been having weather like smartcat’s, except add snow. Then rain. Then sunshine. Rinse and repeat, not necessarily in that order.
I got myself a lamp (takes two 100 watt/23 watt CFL bulbs) and a timer today. I’ll let you know how it works.
Dangle a toy in front of the kittehs for me. 🙂